Lions DE Ronnell Lewis Might Play Bigger Role In 2013

The Lions drafted him with immediate intentions of bolstering their special teams, and he spent the final seven games inactive. But with their defensive end position in flux entering the off-season, general manager Martin Mayhew said rookie Ronnell Lewis might be a potential fix as a pass rusher. "I think he's going to be a factor going forward," Mayhew said in his end-of-season sit-down with reporters last week. "I think he'll be a good rotational defensive end/special-teams player for us. He's got ability, without question. He's good on special teams -- he just didn't have quite enough impact to make one of those other guys inactive (this year)." Cliff Avril and backup Lawrence Jackson will be unrestricted free agents in March, No. 4 end Willie Young is restricted, and Vanden Bosch saw his production decline precipitously in his 12th NFL season. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said Lewis showed glimpses of his pass-rushing ability in practice this season, but still has strides to make. "He and (right tackle Gosder) Cherilus go at it every day, and Cherilus is not fun to go against 'cause I don't know what he's eating for breakfast, but he has an attitude every day he comes out here, and it's a good one," Cunningham said. "It's close to fights sometimes. It doesn't go to that point, but they are very competitive. So, that's a good thing for Ronnell, and we'll see what happens in this off-season." Source: Detroit Free Press